Safety razor with improved handle



July 29, 1958' R. P. aces ETAL SAFETY RAZOR WITH mpaovsn HANDLE File d Dec. 2. 1954 INVENTORS RAFAEL R ROCES ALBERT C. CAPOTOSTO aym A TTORNEV United States iPate'nt O SAFETY RAZOR WITH IMPROVED HANDLE Rafael P. Roces and Albert C. Capotosto, Manila, Republic of the Philippines Application December 2, 1954, Serial No. 472,752

Claims. (Cl. 30B5) This invention relates to razors and more particularly to razors of the type comprising a blade holding head and a handle attached to the head between the ends thereof and extending transversely of the head for positioning the head and manipulating the razor during a shaving operation. Such razors are known in the art as safety razors.

In the usual safety razor construction, the razor is provided with a rigid handle attached to the head in fixed relation thereto. This construction is widely approved since it enables the head and the blade carried thereby to be positively actuated and controlled at all times. To enable certain important advantages to be obtained in the shaving operation, safety razor constructions have been produced in which the razor is provided with a flexible handle. This enables the shaving operation to be performed with a relatively light touch and allows the head of the razor to conform readily to the curves in the contour of the face or other area of the body over which the razor is passed and to adopt itself to the irregularities in the surface of the skin.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved flexible handle construction for safety razors.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety razors with a flexible handle construction in which the parts may be quickly and easily set up to give the handle different degrees of flexibility and may be securely locked in each set up condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety razors with an improved handle construction the parts of which may be set up to provide a rigid handle attached in fixed relation to the head and, alternatively, the parts may be set up to provide a flexible handle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a safety razor embodying the novel and improved features, constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawing illustrating a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a view of a razor embodying the invention partly in elevation and partly in section taken in a plane containing the axis of the handle and illustrating the parts in the positions which they assume under one condition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the parts in the positions which they assume under another condition.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating the parts in the positions which they assume under still an-' other condition.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section taken in a plane containing the axis of the handle, illustrating, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the razor construction shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in substantially the positions shown in said figure.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section taken in a plane containing the axis of the handle and illustrating, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the razor construction shown in Fig. 2 with the parts in substantially the positions shown in said figure, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view illustrating the various parts of the razor construction.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the razor comprises a head indicated as a whole at 2 and a handle indicated as a whole at 4 attached to the head by which handle the razor is held by the operator and manipulated during a shaving operation.

The head comprises the usual backing plate 6, a razor blade 8 engaging the backing plate and the usual clamping plate 10 for clamping the blade against the backing plate. A threaded stud 12, secured to the clamping plate, passes through openings respectively in the blade and the backing plate and is projected downwardly, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, beyond the lower face of the backing plate. Aportion of the handle 4 is threaded over the projecting portion of the stud and is screwed up firmly against the lower side or face of the backing plate to attach the handle to the head and to secure the parts of the head together. i

The head construction above described is substantially the same as that embodied in the usual safety razor of the Gillette type.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the handle 4 comprises a laterally flexible handle portion 14, made of spring wire coiled into a cylindrical formation with the coils held yieldingly in contact by the spring of the metal. To the uppermost coil of the spring, as shown, is secured by any suitable means a ring 16 constructed to receive within the same the stud 12, and said ring is formed with interior screw threads arranged to be threaded over the threads on said stud. The ring 16 is provided screwed up on the stud to force the end of extension 16a tightly against the inner face of the recess 17 in the backing plate to secure the upper part of the spring fixedly to the head and to clamp the parts of the head together.

The spring 14 is normally maintained in the substantially straight condition shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 by the spring of the metal of the coils which normally maintains each coil in contact with the adjacent coils throughout the circumference of each coil. The spring, when free, however, may be flexed in a direction transverse to its axis against the spring action of the coils. When released by the forces which flex the shaft, the resilience of the shaft will cause the same to return to a substantially straight condition.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the spring 14 is engaged within a sleeve 13 in which the spring is arranged to slide freely to locate the spring in different positions longitudinally of the sleeve. As shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the coils of the spring 14 fit relatively closely to the walls of the sleeve. The spring may be located longitudinally of the sleeve so that it is entirely that the upper end portion thereof projects varying distances from the upper end of the sleeve. When the spring is located in the sleeve so that the upper end portion of the spring projects from the sleeve, the portion of the spring projecting from the sleeve forms a flexible handle portion and the flexibility thereof varieswith the length of said projecting portion. i z

Within the lower end of the spring 14 is inserted a plug 20 shaped as shown in' Fig. 6, the plug havinga'portion 22 which fits tightly in the spring." Acap'24 threaded on the lower end of the sleeve and a coil spring 26 is interposed between the lower end wall of the cap and the plug 20 to support the spring 14 yieldingly in the sleeve. With this construction, the spring may be yieldingly suported by the'coiled spring 26, with the upper end portion of the spring projecting from the sleeve as shown in Fig. 1. The spring'14 may be enclosed entirely within the sleeve by forcing the same downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 against the tension of spring 26. Manually operable means is provided for locking the spring positively in each position in which it is located in the sleeve. This means comprises a series of flexible resilient jaws 28 formed on the upper end portion of the sleeve 18, as shown, by longitudinal slots 30 cut in the sleeve. These jaws normally either are disengaged from the spring or are engaged lightly with the spring, so thatthe spring is freely movable through the sleeve. The upper portions of these jaws are beveled off on the outside thereof to form cam surfaces 32. A nut 34 for'cont'ractingthes e jaws to engage the same with the spring 14 to lock the spring in adjusted position is rotatably mounted on the upper portion of the sleeve 18. This nut is arranged to" fitover the flexible jaws 23 on the sleeve and is forrnedwith screw threads 36 on the inside thereof for engagement with screw threads 38 formed on the outside ofthe jaws 28. The nut 34 is formed, adjacent its upper end, with an annular cam surface 40 for engagernent with the cam surfaces 32 on the jaws 28 to forcethe jaws inwardly against the spring 14 to clamp the spring to the sleeve 18 and thereby lock the shaft securely in position longitudinally within the sleeve.

When the nut 34 is located longitudinally on the sleeve 18 to relievethe pressure'o'f the'cam surface 40' on the cam faces 32 on'theclahiping jaws 28 on thesleeve, the spring 14 is unlocked and the parts of the razor are located "substantially'in the positions shown in Fig. 1.. It

will be notedfroin this fig'urethat, with the spring 14 unlocked, the'spring ishel'clfin position in the sleeve 18,

with the'upper portion of the spging'projecting some distance above the nut 34 by the coiled spring 26 When the operator wishes to provide the razor with a rigid handle, the head of the razor, the ring 16 and spring:

14'are forced downwardly to engage the ring 16 withv the upper end of the nut 34 thereby'compressing the spring 26 and, while the spring ishelddown to hold thering" against the nut, the internal'threads of which are already engaged with the threads'on the outside of 'the clamping jaws, the nut is screwed down further on' the, sleeve. to"

cause the cam surface 40cm the nut, through its engageri ment with the cam faces 32 on the jaws, to, fof'c'e'tlie'. jaws inwardly against thej spring 14 to 'clarnpjthe spring." The spring 14 and'the sleeve 18 are thus loelied together.

forced inwardly by the locking nut 34, engage the coil 14b and clamp the same. This also clamps'the coil 14a, the ring 16 and the head of the razor in fixed position with relation to the sleeve 18.

Thus when the spring 14 is located in the sleevel8iin.

the position shown in Fig, 2 an d is clamped in this .position by the nut 34, the sleeve, nut, coils at upper portion of spring 14, and ring 16 form a rigid handle to which the head is fixedly connected.

When the sleeve 18 and the spring 14 are clamped together in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 and it is desired to provide the razor with a flexible handle, the nut 34 is unscrewed on the jaws 28 on the sleeve sufliciently to relieve the pressure of the cam surface 40 on the cam faces 32 on the jaws. The spring 14 is thereby unclamped with relation to the sleeve and is forced upwardly through the sleeve and the nut into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 by the coiled spring 26. In this position, the spring 14 projects some distance above the nut 34.

In this action the projection of the spring 14 from the sleeve may be suflicient to give the handle the desired degree of flexibility without further shifting of the shaft with relation to the sleeve. This action also places the parts of the handle in condition for the easy and convenient adjustment of the spring 14 in the sleeve to provide a handle having degrees of flexibility varying through a wide range. The inside diameters of the sleeve and the nut 34 and the outside diameters of the spring are such as to allow the spring to be shifted freely longitudinally with relation to the sleeve and nut.

When it is desired to provide the razor with a handle having a moderate degree of flexibility, the spring 14 may be left in the lonigtudinal position with relation to the sleeve 18and nut 34 shown in Fig. l and may be locked in this position in the sleeve by screwing the nut 34 down further oyer the jaws 28 on the sleeve to cause the cam surface 40 on the nut, through its engagement with the cam faces 32 on the jaws, to force the jaws inwardly to clamp the spring in position. With the spring locked in this'position with relation to the sleeve and nut, the portion of the spring above the nut may be flexed to a substantial degree in any direction in the shaving operation.

With the parts of the handle construction in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1, if it is desired to provide the razor with a handle having a greater degree of flexibility than it would have with the spring 14 projecting from the sleeve 18 and nut 34 for the distance shown in Fig. 1, the spring 14 is shifted outwardly in the sleeve 18 into a position such as that shown in Fig. 3. The spring is. then looked in this position in the sleeve by screwing the locking nut 34 down over the jaws 28 on. the sleeve to actuate the jaws to lock the spring in position. This positioning of the spring in the. sleeve not only increases the. flexibility of the handle substantially over the razor the parts. adjusted as shown in. Fig. 1, because of the much longer portion of the shaft projecting beyond the sleeve and nut butalso increases toa considerable degree the length of the handle. This. increase in the lengthof the handle is of substantial advantage inreaching certain parts to be shaved and manipulating the razor toshave these parts.

If. it is desired to provide the razor with a handle having still greater flexibility or greater length thanwith the locating of the spring 14. with relation to the sleeve and nut as shownin Fig. 3, thismay be readily done as will be, understood by those skilled in the art-from the above description. The length of the spring 14 is sufficient to enable the spring 14" to be projected a considerably greater distance. from the. sleeve as might be required to obtain these results.

With. parts in the relative positions shown in Fig. l. if-.it is desired-to provide the razor with a handle having aless degree of flexibility than it would have, with the spring projecting from the sleeve and nut for the distance shown in Fig- 1, the spring is shifted inwardly in'the sleeve-and nut against thetension of the spring 26,. When the spring is located in the desired position inthesleeveand'nut, the nut is screwed down, further over the. clamping. jaws 28- to gactu'ate..the jaws. to lock. the spring inpositions It should be understood that, except as defined in the claims, the invention is not limited to the particular construction of the illustrated embodiment of the invention but that this construction is merely illustrative of one form in which the invention may be embodied and that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the claims.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having specifically described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

l. A safety'razor comprising a head, a handle to which the head is attached including a rigid sleeve, a coil spring mounted within the sleeve for sliding movement longitudinally of the sleeve to locate the coil spring alternatively in a position entirely within the sleeve and in positions projecting different distances from one end of the sleeve, the spring having its coils within the sleeve fitting in relatively close relation to the wall of the sleeve to be engaged by said wall to restrict the lateral flexing of the portion of the spring enclosed by the sleeve, means for fixedly attaching the head to one end of the coil spring, and means for clamping the coil spring to the sleeve to hold the spring in adjusted position longitudinally of the sleeve.

2. A safety razor comprising a head, a handle to which the head is attached including a rigid sleeve, a coil spring mounted within the sleeve for sliding movement longitudinally of the sleeve to locate the coil spring alternatively in a position entirely within the sleeve and in positions projecting diflerent distances from one end of the sleeve, the spring having its coils within the sleeve fitting in relatively close relation to the wall of the sleeve to be engaged by said wall to restrict the lateral flexing of the portion of the spring enclosed by the sleeve, means for fixedly attaching the head to one end of the coil spring, and means for clamping the head in fixed relation to the adjacent end of the sleeve when the spring is entirely enclosed by the sleeve.

3. A safety razor comprising a head, a handle to which the head is attached including a rigid sleeve, a coil spring mounted within the sleeve for sliding movement longitudinally of the sleeve to locate the coil spring alternatively in a position entirely within the sleeve and in positions projecting different distances from one end of the sleeve, the spring having its coils within the sleeve fitting in relatively close relation to the wall of the sleeve to be engaged by said wall to restrict the lateral flexing of the portion of the spring enclosed by the sleeve, means for" 6 fixedly attaching the head to one end of the coil spring, and manually operable means for clamping the coil spring to the sleeve to hold the spring in adjusted position longitudinally of the sleeve.

4. A safety razor comprising a head, a handle to which the head is attached including a rigid sleeve, a coil spring mounted within the sleeve for sliding movement longitudinally of the sleeve to locate the coil spring alternatively in a position entirely within the sleeve and in positions projecting different distances from one end of the sleeve, the spring having its coils within the sleeve fitting in relatively close relation to the wall of the sleeve to be engaged by said wall to restrict the lateral flexing of the portion of the spring enclosed by the sleeve, means for fixedly attaching the head to one end ofthe coil spring, and means for clamping the coil spring to the sleeve to hold the spring in adjusted position longitudinally of the sleeve and for clamping the head in fixed relation to the adjacent end of the sleeve when the coil spring is substantially entirely enclosed by the sleeve.

5. A safety razor comprising a head, a handle to which the head is attached including a rigid sleeve, a coil spring mounted within the sleeve for sliding movement longitudinally of the sleeve to locate the coil spring alternatively in a position entirely within the sleeve and in positions projecting difierentdistances from one end of the sleeve, the spring having its coils within the sleeve fitting in relatively close relation to the wall of the sleeve to be engaged by said wall to restrict the lateral flexing of the portion of the spring enclosed by the sleeve, means for fixedly attaching the head to one end of the coil spring, means for clamping the spring in position with relation to the sleeve when the spring is located entirely within the sleeve, and means for projecting the spring from the sleeve upon the actuation of said clamping means to-release the spring when the spring is located in said posi tion. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,293 Harrer Oct. 4, 1938 2,235,841 Monnet Mar. 25, 1941 2,279,324 Julien Apr. 14, 1942 2,613,436 Burke Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS I 347,252 Italy Apr. 2, 1937 495,513 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1938 

